The chronicles of my journey from UC to life with a j-pouch.

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I DID IT!

A mere 7 years and 8 days separate my diagnosis with UC and my college graduation. I was 18 years old and just finishing up my first semester of college when everything changed for me. I will admit that I doubted my ability to get a degree on more than one occasion, but I have to say that I am so glad that my family, especially my parents and Kyle, never gave up on me. They pushed me to hold on to as many credit hours as I physically could handle each semester, even when I had to email assignments in from my hospital bed. I could not have done it without their support, or the support of my extended family. Before “Obamacare,” I had to register for a full load of classes every semester, or my dad’s insurance wouldn’t cover me. I cannot tell you how much stress was lifted from my shoulders when I found out that I could stay on my parents’ insurance until I was 26 (without being a full time student). You see, I would register for 12 credit hours, but I was so sick and weak that I would have to withdraw from 2, 3, and sometimes all of the courses because I was physically unable to attend class and complete the work required.

I was unable to walk with my fellow graduates, due to the severity of my UC symptoms from December-March, but thankfully that is the last of my life events that will be affected by the disease!!